Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Plainville faces more hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #122 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 64 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Plainville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plainville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Plainville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plainville, and Plainville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C #122 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plainville’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Plainville has more expected damage per building than 79% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Plainville: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plainville flood? Sometimes: 64 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plainville, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene22 claims · $556K
- Hurricane Floyd12 claims · $91K
Plainville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Plainville
Disasters that paid out in Plainville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Plainville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$162K to the Town of Plainville for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$94K to the Town of Plainville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$372K to the Town of Plainville for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$34K to the Town of Plainville for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $556K
- 2011Snowstorm$46K to the Town of Plainville for repairs
- 2006Snow$50K to the Town of Plainville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2005Record Snow$43K to the Town of Plainville for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$28K to the Town of Plainville for repairs
- 2003Snow$36K to the Town of Plainville for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$30K to the Town of Plainville for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $91K
Old photos of Plainville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plainville archive →Plainville and its neighbors
Plainville is 4th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Southington | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Farmington | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Plainville | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Bristol | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 190 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Plainville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Plainville
Is Plainville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainville has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #122 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plainville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 64 claims in Plainville since 1979, $896K in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (22).
Is Plainville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In the county, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plainville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plainville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Plainville?
By FEMA money that reached Plainville, Severe Storm (2011): $372K to the Town of Plainville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 22 paid, $556K.
Is Plainville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Plainville’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plainville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plainville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.